B-ISDN multimedia workstation architecture

Technical issues involved in integrating computer and communication technologies in the broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) environment are discussed. The Multimedia Environment for Remote Multiple-Attendee Interactive Decision-making (MERMAID), an ISDN-based multimedia and multiparty desktop conference system, is described. MERMAID involves B-ISDN key technologies related to multimedia and multicast protocols, and workstation architecture for groupware applications. Technical issues based on user experiences and evaluations of MERMAID over three years are presented and discussed in connection with the system's evolution in the B-ISDN environment     

Heading towards an advanced signalling system for multimedia,multiparty services in broadband ISDN

Introduction of the broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) will enable network users to make use of advanced multimedia, multiparty services. With this aim in view, RACE II project R2044, MAGIC, is investigating long-term signalling requirements, architecture and protocols for B-ISDN. New service concepts are being developed in MAGIC which will provide more flexibility when compared to narrowband ISDN (N-ISDN). The service requirements and other signalling requirements, such as the separation between call and associated connections at the network-node interface, are used to determine the distribution of functions over the network. The signalling protocols which are used to exchange the signalling information are subsequently developed. These signalling protocols are simulated to prove the performance and the feasibility of call handling concepts     

Frame relaying as a common access to N-ISDN and B-ISDN dataservices

Widespread use of personal computers (PCs) and PC networks is leading to a strongly increased demand for WAN data services in terms of number of accesses and required bandwidth. Narrowband ISDN (N-ISDN) and broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) have the potential to satisfy, respectively, the existing and developing requirements. However, a flexible evolution path needs to be identified for the provision of ISDN access facilities. Frame relaying and frame switching are prime candidates for such a common access facility, although not necessarily intrinsic B-ISDN data services. The article gives an overview of frame relaying and frame switching as possible candidates for harmonized access to N-ISDN and B-ISDN. Pre-ISDN, N-ISDN, and B-ISDN services with their characteristics in terms of cost and performance are first described. It is shown how frame relaying and switching are positioned with respect to the identified service requirements. Then some examples are given of selected scenarios, and the role played by specifically frame relaying to provide access to B-ISDN services, offering at the same time a seamless evolutionary path from N-ISDN to B-ISDN. The position of frame relaying and switching is discussed first in respect to application requirements, and then in architectural terms. Frame relay (and frame switching) services are then identified as services that provide the necessary low threshold and short lead time for rapid market penetration, in order to allow applications to indirectly take advantage of the benefits of ATM services     

Traffic management for B-ISDN services

A set of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) bearer service categories, differentiated in terms of quality of service (QOS), that will support the large spectrum of applications expected in broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN) is defined. The evolution of applications and the traffic requirements in B-ISDN/ATM networks are described, and the evolution of network services to address these requirements is discussed. The definition of ATM bearer service categories necessary for the economical support of initial applications and evolution to future B-ISDN services is proposed. The elements of the ATM traffic management strategy to support these service categories are presented     

Alternative technologies and delivery systems for broadband ISDNaccess

Switched on-demand video is expected to become a major consumer of bandwidth. Two-way video offers televisting, tele-education, and telecommuting services, which together could represent a further substantial bandwidth demand. High-speed data services to provide the fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) between locations, or even operate a computer-aided design (CAD) terminal remotely from its local area network (LAN), are likely new applications for broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN). The video quality evolution and digital modulation techniques that are making broadband digital delivery of TV signals possible are reviewed. Cable TV B-ISDN delivery, short twisted pair B-ISDN delivery, and TV broadcast digital delivery are discussed     

UMTS — the mobile part of broadband communications for the next century

This paper outlines the path from developing broadband ISDN/ATM systems towards the European vision of the next generation mobile system — Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).The capabilities of UMTS in terms of services and features compared to the second generation mobile system GSM, and the network technologies behind N-ISDN and B-ISDN, are discussed with proposals for technical developments to satisfy the UMTS requirements. The UMTS radio interface aspects are described and considerations on the network requirements to support these radio aspects are discussed.The requirements within the network for control, switching and transport to support the mobility, service and interconnecting network aspects of UMTS are outlined in conjunction with the technical solutions currently under discussion and some latest thoughts on a potential high-level architecture     

Implementation of a broadband integrated services hybrid network

The issues involved in the design of a broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN), that utilizes optical fibers in the subscriber loop, are considered. A hybrid scheme that provides integrated access to ISDN and broadband services by delivering voice/data signals in a digital format while using an analog format for full-motion video services to subscribers is proposed. The discussion covers planning for a B-ISDN, the system concept, implementation, the loop fiber network, subscriber equipment, and cost comparison and analysis     

B-ISDN and the OSI protocol reference model

The evolution of public telecommunication networks toward broadband integrated services digital networks (B-ISDNs) is presented. The asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), which supports B-ISDNs, and the B-ISDN protocol reference model are discussed. It is shown that the service offered by the ATM layer in the B-ISDN protocol reference model is equivalent to the service offered by the OSI physical layer. It is also shown that the service offered by the ATM adaptation layer (AAL) type 3/4 is similar to an OSI data link service. The emergence of the metropolitan area network (MAN) standard as an intermediate support for broadband services and the similarities between the DQDB MAC and the AAL type 3/4 in its connectionless mode are discussed     

Photonic highway: broad-band ring subscriber loops using opticalsignal processing

The introduction of optical signal processing technology into transmission systems and basic experiments with optical drop/insert using bistable laser diodes are discussed. With broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) architecture and technology now under study, optical signal processing (OSP) is being considered to increase network capacity and flexibility. B-ISDN will require over 40 Gb/s in the feeder loop that connects the central office and remote terminals having drop/insert function. Remote terminals will process large amounts of high-speed data. An OSP-based broadband subscriber loop photonic highway that uses a ring architecture linking photonic access nodes (PANs) that directly process optical signals is proposed. Each PAN has an optical drop/insert function and can synchronize optical frame signals using a proposed optical sampling memory. Optical drop/insert experiments confirmed the feasibility of the proposed method     

ISDN的演变及N－ISDN用户－网络接口

本文从通信网的发展、社会需求及技术保证的角度阐述了从现有通信网到综合业务数字网的演变过程；对利用现有用户线实现窄带ＩＳＤＮ进行了讨论；进而对实现窄带ＩＳＤＮ的关键技术之一的ＩＳＤＮ用户－网络接口结构作了较为详细的介绍。     

Management and control functions in ATM switching systems

As research has progressed, it has become clear that the main difficulties in ATM pertain to its operational details rather than the concept. And it seems likely that these control issues will be much more complicated and costly for ATM switches when compared with current telephone circuit switches. The asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is the target switching technique for the future public broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN). The purpose of this article is to examine the management and control functions in ATM switching systems implied by current industry standards and agreements on OAM and traffic control. Until now, ATM research in the areas of switch design and traffic control have progressed essentially independently. First, we briefly review the B-ISDN Protocol Reference Model and its representation of the different information flows in ATM. Network management and traffic control principles in ATM, and in particular OAM, are overviewed. With this information as background, we attempt to infer their implications on the functional blocks of an ATM switching system. An example switch architecture model with distributed management and control functions is outlined, and some design issues are discussed     

A radio system proposal for widespread low-power tetherlesscommunications

It is suggested that low-power digital radio as an access technology could be integrated into a local exchange network to provide a ubiquitous personal communications network (PCN). High-quality tetherless communications services that could be provided by such an exchange-network-based PCN are described. A possible low-power exchange access digital radio system for providing these exchange-network based PCS services is discussed. The radio system uses a spectrum-efficient time-division multiple-access (TDMA) architecture made possible by advanced digital signal processing techniques. Control of the frequency reuse system is described, and frequency spectrum needs are indicated     

The infrastructure for gigabit computer networks

The key features of the synchronous optical network (SONET) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) standards for the broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) public network, which is expected to provide a powerful and ubiquitous infrastructure to support the emerging gigabit-per-second data and multimedia applications, are reviewed. The advantages of ATM, the ATM cell format, the B-ISDN protocol reference model and the ATM layer, the ATM adaptation layer, and ATM traffic management and signaling are discussed. An experimental high-performance parallel interface (HIPPI)-ATM-SONET interface is presented as an example to illustrate how the SONET and ATM techniques can be used to provide end-to-end transport for applications requiring a bandwidth of 800 Mb/s and possibly 1600 Mb/s     

Current role and future evolution of the ISDN Signaling system inNTT's network

The current role of the integrated services digital network (ISDN) Signaling System is examined, covering general features of the ISDN protocol, functionalities supporting ISDN services, and functionalities supporting existing services. The Signaling System No.7 (SS7) network and its operation are described. The future evolution of the ISDN signaling system is discussed     

B-ISDN architecture and protocol

The authors discuss the architecture and protocol for broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) based on the CCITT standards. The discussion attempts to address the general concept of B-ISDN architecture and protocol and, whenever possible, present alternatives and the rationale for decisions in the selection of the protocol. B-ISDN is presented as a network evolution, and the impact of the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) on the network is described. The role of virtual channel and virtual path in B-ISDN is discussed. The B-ISDN protocol structure and lower layer functions comprising the physical, ATM, and adaptation layers are presented, and the tentative trends of signaling and traffic control for the B-ISDN are delineated     

Mobile broadband system (MBS): trends and impact on 60 GHz bandMMIC development

The RACE mobile broadband system (MBS) project aims to extend the broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) to mobile users. To meet the future demand for broadband wireless picocell networks, frequencies have been allocated in the 62-63 and 65-66 GHz bands. However, for the use of a mobile broadband system to become widespread it is necessary to develop relatively low cost transceivers based on millimetre wave GaAs P-HEMT MMICs. A transceiver architecture and elementary building blocks have been defined. 60 GHz transistor models have been refined and circuit design, layout and simulation achieved. Future cost decrease is a function of the MMIC manufacturing yield, since a high yield allows a higher layout density and consequently fewer MMICs per transceiver, and of the improvement in packaging techniques above 60 GHz     

A hybrid architecture for analog video broadcast and B-ISDNservices in customer premises networks

The use of SCM (subcarrier multiplexing) transmission to deliver broadcast analog video signals within a CPN (customer premises network) as an overlay to an all-digital B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network) is considered. The feasibility of a proposal where the analog and digital signals are carried on different wavelengths is shown. An architecture for an optical CPN, termed H-Bus and incorporating emerging broadband SONET and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) standards, is taken as a baseline for the delivery of switched digital, two-way voice, data, and video services. An optical overlay for the distribution of analog, broadcast video services using subcarrier multiplexing is considered. Several key alternatives associated with the delivery of broadcast video services are assessed, including signal quality, number of simultaneous channels, number of user terminals to be served, and modulation format. These issues are considered in terms of their impact on the interface with the public local exchange network and on the complexity, topology, and cost of the CPN     

INSIGNIA: a pan European trial for the intelligent broadbandnetwork architecture

This article summarizes the work carried out within the ACTS project INSIGNIA, which is targeted at the provision of interactive multimedia services through IN and B-ISDN integration. The basic concepts regarding the integrated approach are discussed with emphasis on the functional architecture. This discussion is followed by a presentation of IN multimedia services which were created based on these principles. An overview of the real-life trials which were conducted on a pan-European basis in order to evaluate the INSIGNIA services is also given. The results of this evaluation are examined from a variety of viewpoints, including functional architecture, user and network equipment, service logic programs and applications, as well as user acceptance and network performance     

Image coding using variable-rate side-match finite-state vectorquantization

Future B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network) users will be able to send various kinds of information, such as voice, data, and image, over the same network and send information only when necessary. It has been recognized that variable-rate encoding techniques are more suitable than fixed-rate techniques for encoding images in a B-ISDN environment. A new variable-rate side-match finite-state vector quantization with a block classifier (CSMVQ) algorithm is described. In an ordinary fixed-rate SMVQ, the size of the state codebook is fixed. In the CSMVQ algorithm presented, the size of the state codebook is changed according to the characteristics of the current vector which can be predicted by a block classifier. In experiments, the improvement over SMVQ was up to 1.761 dB at a lower bit rate. Moreover, the improvement over VQ can be up to 3 dB at nearly the same bit rate.